GRAS in RIAS Quarterly: Cultural Connections

Issue 60 (Winter 2024/25) of RIAS Quarterly explores architecture’s role in shaping the cultural life of Scotland, positioning the built environment as a reflection of shared values. We are honoured to see GRAS projects, Custom Lane and TALKS AT THE LANE as part of the discussion on the rich culture of idea exchange across the country.

In “Forms of (Cultural) Exchange” (pp. 14–15), Natasha Huq—Associate at GRAS, Conservation Architect, and co-founder/curator of TALKS AT THE LANE—and Rowan Mackinnon-Pryde—Co-director at STUDIO NIRO, architect, lecturer, and director of the AE Foundation—reflect on the “inherent reciprocity between architecture and culture”. They explore formats that support collective thought and shared discourse. Their conversation extends the cultural mapping introduced in Andy Summers’ 2020 article, The Mosaic of Architectural Culture in Scotland (Autumn 2020), by spotlighting the distinct contributions of AE Foundation and TALKS AT THE LANE: one offering introspection, the other “nurturing cross-disciplinary dialogue”.

In “Present Company” (pp. 16–17), Andy Summers—architect, educator, and public programmer—follows the thread of grassroots, self-initiated initiatives to GRAS’s Custom Lane. Describing it as a “robust hinterland,” Summers sees Custom Lane as an anchor point: a place grounded in its dedication to Leith’s creative community. With workshop, event, and exhibition spaces offered generously, the Lane has become a vital hub for locally based initiatives, emerging designers, skilled makers, producers, and established design companies alike—hosting talks, exhibitions, markets, launches, and gatherings of all kinds.

Within this ecology, Summers describes TALKS AT THE LANE, supported by GRAS, as a “programme of beautifully produced lectures and conversations,” and an important contributor to discourse on architecture between practitioners based in Scotland and those further afield. He celebrates Custom Lane’s sustained presence as a meaningful part of Scotland’s wider cultural landscape.

This relationship between place, heritage, and forward-thinking practice also underpinned the EAA Retrofit Debate – Heritage: How to Save the Future Without Losing the Past, held at Custom Lane in 2024. As summarised on page 79, the event—chaired by Alex Liddell (EAA)—brought together a panel of experts, including GRAS Director Gunnar Groves-Raines. Addressing the nuanced relationship between sustainability and conservation, Gunnar spoke to the inherent sustainability of historic buildings, advocating for adaptive reuse led by the logic and craft of their original design. The A-listed Custom Lane—both the setting for the discussion and a living example of these principles—stood as a compelling case.

Finally, in the RIAS Awards 2025 section, GRAS’ refurbishment of Wildland’s Kinloch Lodge is among the shortlisted projects, featured on page 74—its atmospheric qualities beautifully captured by photographer Fran Mart.

Text & photograph: Paula Szturc